Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding will be returning to her old stomping grounds in Portland for a free performance at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday Feb. 23 at City Hall, 1221 S.W. Fourth Ave. The Skanner News Video: Esperanza Spalding

Spalding has been named the official artistic and community ambassador for the Portland Jazz Festival. She will be participating in the festival's education event, "The Incredible Journey of Jazz" – a week-long middle-school program celebrating Black History Month curated by her former professor at Portland State University, Darrell Grant.

Additionally, Spalding will perform on Feb. 25 for a performance at the Newmark Theatre as part of the Jazz Festival, which kicks off its series of shows and events on Feb. 18.